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Exorcism-resistant ghost possession treated with clopenthixol
1UMDS Guy's and St Thomas's, London.
Background:
An Indian man now in Britain explained his criminal behaviour as episodic ghost possession. Traditional exorcisms failed to help.
Method:
A 'Western' diagnosis of dissociative state or paranoid schizophrenia was made. Treatment commenced using trifluoperazine and clopenthixol.
Results:
The patient underwent remission during neuroleptic treatment, despite previous evidence of genuine possession.
Conclusions:
Many cultures give rise to apparently genuine cases of ghost possession. Neuroleptics may relieve symptoms of exorcism-resistant possession.
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